dependence
noun
de·pen·dence
di-ˈpen-dən(t)s 
variants
or less commonly dependance
1
: the quality or state of being dependent
especially
: the quality or state of being influenced or determined by or subject to another
3
: one that is relied on
4
a
: drug addiction
developed a dependence on painkillers
Examples of dependence in a Sentence
The company was hurt by its dependence on government loans.
Our dependence upon foreign oil makes our economy vulnerable.
a harmful dependence on foreign oil
Recent Examples on the Web
Russia might increase its overland exports of oil and gas to its southern neighbor, reducing China’s dependence on maritime energy imports that U.S. forces could block during a conflict.
—
Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
Sodium is about 500 times more abundant than lithium, and widely available in the U.S., reducing the country’s dependence on foreign sources.
—Aldo Svaldi, The Denver Post, 18 Apr. 2024
India’s growing energy needs are complicating the country’s goal of reducing its dependence on fossil fuels, Bloomberg reports.
—David Gelles, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Yet another former senior employee, who left in 2022, recalls having to assuage fears internally across TikTok’s entire workforce about its dependence on ByteDance.
—Alexandra Sternlicht, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2024
The outcome of the case could have ramifications beyond remedies for victims, given the U.S. military’s dependence on contractors.
—Mallory Moench, TIME, 14 Apr. 2024
Democrats had shifted away from their heavy dependence on unions in recent decades, but Biden and others have worked to keep those lines of connection active, strongly backing the efforts of the UAW and others.
—Ron Elving, NPR, 13 Apr. 2024
Fear of dependence Being open to receiving requires vulnerability and a willingness to accept support from others.
—Bianca Barratt, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
For Big Tech companies with the money and talent to do so, developing in-house chips helps reduce dependence on outside designers such as Nvidia and Intel while also allowing firms to tailor their hardware specifically to their own AI models, boosting performance and saving on energy costs.
—Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2024
Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
Sodium is about 500 times more abundant than lithium, and widely available in the U.S., reducing the country’s dependence on foreign sources.
—Aldo Svaldi, The Denver Post, 18 Apr. 2024
India’s growing energy needs are complicating the country’s goal of reducing its dependence on fossil fuels, Bloomberg reports.
—David Gelles, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Yet another former senior employee, who left in 2022, recalls having to assuage fears internally across TikTok’s entire workforce about its dependence on ByteDance.
—Alexandra Sternlicht, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2024
The outcome of the case could have ramifications beyond remedies for victims, given the U.S. military’s dependence on contractors.
—Mallory Moench, TIME, 14 Apr. 2024
Democrats had shifted away from their heavy dependence on unions in recent decades, but Biden and others have worked to keep those lines of connection active, strongly backing the efforts of the UAW and others.
—Ron Elving, NPR, 13 Apr. 2024
Fear of dependence Being open to receiving requires vulnerability and a willingness to accept support from others.
—Bianca Barratt, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
For Big Tech companies with the money and talent to do so, developing in-house chips helps reduce dependence on outside designers such as Nvidia and Intel while also allowing firms to tailor their hardware specifically to their own AI models, boosting performance and saving on energy costs.
—Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dependence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near dependence
Cite this Entry
“Dependence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dependence. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
dependence
noun
de·pen·dence
di-ˈpen-dən(t)s
1
: the quality or state of being dependent upon or unduly subject to the influence of another
2
a
: drug addiction
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